An Illustrated History of the State of Washington, by Rev. H.K. Hines, D.D., The
Lewis Publishing Co., Chicago, IL., 1893
HON. CHARLES EISENBEIS. - To no one man is greater credit due for the
development of Port Townsend than to the subject of this sketch, who came to the
town site in poverty, and by persevering industry accumulated small savings
which he invested in real estate and which by careful and judicious manipulation
have evolved into a handsome fortune. Mr. Eisenbeis was born in July, 1832, in
Prussia, where his ancestry had long been resident. Of his father he learned the
trade of a baker, and was prepared upon his arrival in the United States in
1850, to earn thereby an independent livelihood. In company with his brother he
began operations at Rochester, New York. In 1858, via the Panama route, he came
to San Francisco, thence to Port Townsend, arriving February 24th of the same
year. Without financial means he there began work for wages, which were
carefully saved, and a few months later he opened a small shop and prepared for
market the first bakers' goods manufactured in the town, the same consisting
chiefly of crackers and ship bread. With him was associated as partner Mr. J.F.
Bloomburg, now a stock-broker of San Francisco. The site of the store was the
same as that now occupied by his fine building at 314-316 Water street. Two
years later he removed to Steilacoom, and after a successful engagement of five
years in the same business he returned to Port Townsend and purchased the site
of his first enterprise and there continued the bakery, grocery and provision
business up to January, 1891. Upon that site, in 1873, he erected the first
stone building in the town, the original structure being one story 27‡ x 70
feet, to which he subsequently added, making the present fine building. With the
accumulation of means the improvement of real estate has been the policy
Eisenbeis' life. In 1878 he erected a frame building, corner of Water and Tyler
streets, which for twelve years was occupied by the Government officers as a
custom house. In improving the water front, associated with Hon. Joseph A. Kuhn,
he erected 1,320 feet of sea wall between Taylor and Van Buren streets, which
improvement added materially to the appearance of the town, and reclaimed
valuable property for business purposes. In 1884 he erected a two-story stone
building, corner Quincy and Water streets; in 1890, the Mt. Baker block, corner
Water and Taylor streets, one of the most imposing business blocks in the city,
and besides these has erected numerous smaller buildings in various parts of the
city, for business and residence purposes. In 1889 he started a brick-yard, thus
supplying the town with building material. He was connected with building the
Tyler street wharf, Union wharf, Commercial and Harrison street docks, and the
wharf in the Eisenbeis addition. He has been interested in the organization and
management of the Port Townsend lumber mill, the Port Townsend Southern
Railroad, First National Bank, Merchants Bank and Port Townsend Steel Wire and
Nail Company. He organized the Eisenbeis syndicate, which purchased 800 acres of
land east of the city, which they have cleared and platted, and erected thereon
the elegant Eisenbeis Hotel. After spending years in developing the city,
through these various channels, in 1892, Mr. Eisenbies began the erection of a
spacious and elegant home, in the Eisenbeis addition, the same being of brick
and stone, three stories high, slate roof, and all modern improvements. To this
magnificent home he can retire after a busy life and enjoy the comforts which
art and science have produced, in marked contrast to his pioneer surroundings of
thirty-five years ago. He has served the city three terms as Mayor, being the
first to hold that office, and served as City Treasurer and two terms as a
member of the Board of Health. He was married in San Francisco in 1835, to Miss
Elizabeth Berghauser, a native of Prussia. She died in 1880, leaving four
children: Sophia, Charles, Jr., Frederick W. and Louisa H. In 1882 he was
married, at Port Townsend, to Miss Kate E. Marsh, a native of England. They have
four children: Lillian, Otto, Hilda and Josephine. Thus briefly have we
recounted the experiences of one of Port Townsend's representative citizens, one
who, through frugality, perseverance and close attention to business, overcame
the obstacle of poverty and built for himself a substantial fortune and an
honored name.
Submitted to the WA. Bios Project in January 2004 by Jeffrey L. Elmer
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Notice: These biographies were transcribed for the Washington Biographies
Project. Unless otherwise stated, no further information is available on the
individual featured in the biographies.